Nitrogen Compounds

Question 1

What is the structure of glycine? How does it differ from all other amino acids?

Answer 1

[structure] draw amino acid with 2H bonded to the alpha carbon

Difference: Glycine does not have a chiral carbon and does not exhibit enantiomerism like other amino acids. It is thus unable to exhibit optical activity as well

Question 2

Define a zwitterion

Answer 2

A zwitterion is a compound with no net electrical charge but has separate parts that are positively and negatively charged

Question 3

What is the bonding between amino acid molecules in NON POLAR organic solvents?

Answer 3

Since amino acids naturally exist as crystalline solids w strong EFOA between oppositely charged ends of zwitterions, they exhibit ionic bonding even in NP organic solvents

Question 4

What is pi?

Answer 4

PI is the PH at which the overall net charge on the amino acid is zero

Question 5

How are peptide bonds formed?

Answer 5

Peptide bonds are formed via the condensation of amino acids through the elimination of a water molecule between the alpha COOH of one amino acid molecule and the alpha NH2 of another molecule